Towns

Between No 1 and No 3, including the town of Cunderdin itself, the Great Eastern Highway passes through settlements having connections with the Coolgardie Water Supply Scheme to a greater or lesser extent. The first you come to, Mundaring, owes its very existence to it, the town site declared in 1898 as water scheme workers moved into the area.

The next settlement east predates the scheme and the name – Sawyers Valley – is a reminder of the occupation of European settlers first attracted to the area. But it too has pipeline connections.

Other settlements owe their existence to the availability of water prior to the scheme such as Chidlow, originally named Chidlow’s Well as a welcome watering place. Apart from water, the history of towns is linked to the history of the State – early roads like the Old York Road, the extension of the railway eastwards and gold discoveries.